Toilet tank water softening device



INVE NTOR D. G. MARKS TOILET TANK WATER SOFTENING DEVICE Filed Feb. 6. 1929 FIG.2.

May 5, 193 1.

K M B MM m 0 Wm T Patented May 5, 1931 UNITED STATES DAN G. MARKS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA TOILET TANK WATER SOFTENING DEVICE Application filed February 6, 1929.. Serial No. 337,832.

This invention relates to improvements in toilet flush tank water softening devices.

An object of the invention is to provide a construction which may easily and conven- 6 iently be placed in a toilet flush tank and which 'will soften or chemically treat the water in the flush tank. Most water used in city water systems is apt to be hard to a greater or less degree and in the purification of the 10 water it is frequently treated with chlorine or a sulphate. The temporary hardness in the water causes the water, on being discharged from the flush tank into a toilet bowl to deposit or precipitate the calcium or other 16 salts against the sides of the bowl. This precipitate, when it is deposited in this natural manner against the sides of the bowl is a very hard precipitate and is difficult to remove therefrom. Also the presence of uric 20 acid in the bowl and acting on the precipitate causes it to discolor the bowl. Uric and other acids causes the precipitate to harden on the bowl and this softening or treating process prevents this condition by neutralization of the acids.

The presence of chlorine or sulphate in the water in the course of time, affects the small valves in the flushing mechanism, attacking especially the small threads on the valves and causing the valves to leak.

It is an object of the invention to supply a water softener or chemical treatment to the water in the flush tank to counteract the deteriorating effect of the sulphate or chlorine and also to cause the water to deposit a pre cipitate in the bowl which is a soft precipitate which can be easily removed from the bowl.

It is another object of the invention to provide a container for a water softening or chemically treating composition which may be placed in a toilet flush tank and which will cause the water softening composition to be gradually disseminated through the water while it is in the flush tank.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claim, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention wherein: f

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a toilet bowl and flush tank, parts being broken away and shown in Vertical section to illustrate the invention as having been applied to the flush tank. 7

, Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the container which contains the water softening composition and which is adapted to be positioned in the flush tank.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the container shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line l4 upon Fig. 2.

' Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the toilet bowl is indicated at Band the flush tank at T which is shown as being provided with the usual flush mechanism,'having a tank ball 10 and a float operated valve 11 which is operated by the conventional float 12. The invention comprises a container having a bottom 13, side walls 14 and a removable cover 15. The side V walls 14 areperforated asby perforations 16. WVithin the container there is arranged a baffle 17 which is disposed opposite the perforations and within the baffle there is a supply of water softening composition indi- 0 cated at 18; This water softening composition may be of any desired character and asuggested composition is natural or arti- 'fic'ial zeolites although any equivalent substance which will satisfactorily soften water may be substituted therefor.

The operation and advantages of the improved construction are as follows: after the tank T has been flushed or emptied, on being refilled with water, the water at first circulates rather rapidly around in the flush tank. Some of the water passes through-the perforations 16 around the baffle 17 and comes in contact with the water softening or treating composition18. In the course of a short while all of the water in the flush tank will be satisfactorily softened so that when the tank is next emptied to flush the toilet bowl B, only softened water will be discharged into the Y bowl. The water having been softened will 1% not deposit a hard precipitate against the sides of the bowl but will only deposit a soft precipitate which can be easily and quickly removed from the bowl, thus preventing discoloration. The softening of the Water by the water softening composition also counteracts the deteriorating eifect of the chlorine or sulphate which may be present in the Water, thus effectively prolonging the life of the metallic parts of the flushing mechanism.

The bafiie 17 prevents the Water from circulating too fast through the container so that only a small part of the Water softening composition 18 will be dissolved or removed during each filling of the flush tank. In the course of time, however, all of V the Water softening composition will be, used up and must be replaced. The container, when in the flush tank, rests on the bottom of the flush tank beneath the fioat 12 so that when the Water softening composition must be replaced it may be removed from the tank from beneath the float, opened and a new supply of water softening composition may be placed therein, after Which the container is again placed in the flush tank beneath the float. The idea of refilling the container may be changed so that it is optional Whether or not it may be made so as to be refilled.

From the above described construction it will be appreciated that a novel and advantageous combination has been provided Which efiectively causes thewater in a toilet flush tank to be softened, accomplishing several advantageous results. Furthermore, I the improved device for supplying a Water softener to the Water in the flush tank may be easily, quickly and cheaply constructed and may be easily and conveniently vplaced in a flush tank Without requiring alteration of the flush tank or the'flushing mechanism.

Various changes may be made in the-details of construction Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claim.

I claim: a

A device for disseminating a Water softener in the water in a toilet flush tank comprising a container having perforated Walls, a battle within the container opposite the Walls and a Water softening composition disposed Within the baflle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my nameto this specification.

DAN G. MARKS. 

